I have fallen into a pattern of picking a scripture that has defined my week or has been important. Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-36. Christ knows we aren't perfect. He knows we make mistakes. He just tells us to trust Him. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." He doesn't ask me to be perfect; He asks me to do my personal best. At that point, He takes over and finishes what I cannot. He does what I cannot do. He fills what I cannot fill. I've experienced that time and time again over these past weeks. I cannot do anything alone. (I'm sure that shocks many of you...). Truly, though, I cannot. He has never failed to help me when I'm doing my part and I ask for His help. That happened in a very significant way this week. I've started writing down one miracle every day. My biggest miracle in the past week is a change of heart. I couldn't do it myself. I tried. The very moment I got to my knees and asked for help, everything changed. My attitude changed. Miracles are more often than not seemingly small things. According to Leshebster, a miracle is when something happens that you couldn't do alone: the impossible happening. The impossible happens everyday. Just look, you'll see it.
Monday, March 28, 2011
MTC Letter #5
Hermana Delis and Hermana Hoer at the Provo LDS Temple, Utah
I have fallen into a pattern of picking a scripture that has defined my week or has been important. Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-36. Christ knows we aren't perfect. He knows we make mistakes. He just tells us to trust Him. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." He doesn't ask me to be perfect; He asks me to do my personal best. At that point, He takes over and finishes what I cannot. He does what I cannot do. He fills what I cannot fill. I've experienced that time and time again over these past weeks. I cannot do anything alone. (I'm sure that shocks many of you...). Truly, though, I cannot. He has never failed to help me when I'm doing my part and I ask for His help. That happened in a very significant way this week. I've started writing down one miracle every day. My biggest miracle in the past week is a change of heart. I couldn't do it myself. I tried. The very moment I got to my knees and asked for help, everything changed. My attitude changed. Miracles are more often than not seemingly small things. According to Leshebster, a miracle is when something happens that you couldn't do alone: the impossible happening. The impossible happens everyday. Just look, you'll see it.
I have fallen into a pattern of picking a scripture that has defined my week or has been important. Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-36. Christ knows we aren't perfect. He knows we make mistakes. He just tells us to trust Him. "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." He doesn't ask me to be perfect; He asks me to do my personal best. At that point, He takes over and finishes what I cannot. He does what I cannot do. He fills what I cannot fill. I've experienced that time and time again over these past weeks. I cannot do anything alone. (I'm sure that shocks many of you...). Truly, though, I cannot. He has never failed to help me when I'm doing my part and I ask for His help. That happened in a very significant way this week. I've started writing down one miracle every day. My biggest miracle in the past week is a change of heart. I couldn't do it myself. I tried. The very moment I got to my knees and asked for help, everything changed. My attitude changed. Miracles are more often than not seemingly small things. According to Leshebster, a miracle is when something happens that you couldn't do alone: the impossible happening. The impossible happens everyday. Just look, you'll see it.
Monday, March 21, 2011
MTC Letter #4
Hermanas Delis and Hoer at the Provo LDS TempleThings are going to be short today. I gave most of my computer time to an Elder I know from Rocklin. He just got his visa and leaves tomorrow! Last minute, so he was trying to get in touch with his family. Some brief weekly updates: I convinced my District to sing some Christmas songs. My companion accidentally called us "pig missionaries" in Spanish (did I share that already-it still makes me chuckle). I think there will be pictures up by now. I sent some home. The Hermana with short, curly, blonde hair is my companion: Hermana Delis. She is the greatest. She has such a deep, true, pure, strong love and testimony of Christ and all that He is in our lives as individuals. She is definitely a strength to me. So, I thought of what I want to say when I only have a few minutes. This is it: I was reading in the Book of Mormon and read a scripture which described how I felt so clearly. "Therefore let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Who can glory too much in the Lord? Who can say too much of his power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part of what I feel." - Alma 26:16 That is how I feel about all of this: about Christ; about the scriptures; about prayer; about being here, serving a mission; about the indescribable blessings I have received because of it all. Even if I spent years preparing a written statement, thousands of pages long, I would still be unable to say even the smallest part of what I feel. My joy is because of Christ. His power, mercy, and love, have changed my life and still continue to do so. I truly don't know how to say what I feel. Some feelings surpass the meaning of any words-even the best of words. I hope all is well back home. Thank you for all the letters. I always enjoy and look forward to them. They are a joy. ~ Hermana Hoer
Monday, March 14, 2011
MTC Letter #3
2 Nephi 9:29 says that to be Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal. Take out the letters: SMILE!!!! That is what being spritually minded makes me do. Living the teachings of Jesus Christ makes me smile. It makes me happy in ways that nothing else in the world can. Missions are hard. But they are happy.
I made a new friend. Brother Strock and his wife serve here at the MTC. He pointed out something neat:
Fruit starts out green. Then it ripens into bright colors; but, for how long is it ripe? Not too long after ripening, the fruit rots.
What is my point? Stay green! Stay new! New missionaries are always called "greenies". Is that such a bad thing? Not if you ask me. Christ tells us to be like children, with hearts and minds open, teachable, humble. Those are qualities that bring true happiness. Be open to Christ, to His words. Let Him teach you. Be humble and adapt to His instruction. Next time I feel uncomfortable being new, or want to pretend I know what I'm doing because I don't actually know, I'm going to think of Brother Strock. Being new, open, needing help is a gift. Especially when I know that I have heavenly help with my name on it.
Christ takes the bad and gives the good in exchange. Does that even make sense? He takes our misery and gives us peace. He takes our turmoil and gives us hope. He takes our emptiness and gives us fullness. He takes our pain and gives us joy. Christ chose to wear the markings of His mission on His hands. He kept His scars on His feet, His wrists, and hands. I thought a lot about that this week. I wear His name on my name plaque. I represent Him. Yet I complain about tough times and hard things. I've realized that each of those tough experiences are an opportunity to stand with Christ, do hard things. I will never come anywhere near close to experiencing what Christ did. But, I know that Christ knows anything I've experienced. And He is there to help. All I need to do is ask. The proof is in His hands, as he explains in 1 Nephi 21. He will not forget me, because I am graven into His hands.
I made a new friend. Brother Strock and his wife serve here at the MTC. He pointed out something neat:
Fruit starts out green. Then it ripens into bright colors; but, for how long is it ripe? Not too long after ripening, the fruit rots.
What is my point? Stay green! Stay new! New missionaries are always called "greenies". Is that such a bad thing? Not if you ask me. Christ tells us to be like children, with hearts and minds open, teachable, humble. Those are qualities that bring true happiness. Be open to Christ, to His words. Let Him teach you. Be humble and adapt to His instruction. Next time I feel uncomfortable being new, or want to pretend I know what I'm doing because I don't actually know, I'm going to think of Brother Strock. Being new, open, needing help is a gift. Especially when I know that I have heavenly help with my name on it.
Christ takes the bad and gives the good in exchange. Does that even make sense? He takes our misery and gives us peace. He takes our turmoil and gives us hope. He takes our emptiness and gives us fullness. He takes our pain and gives us joy. Christ chose to wear the markings of His mission on His hands. He kept His scars on His feet, His wrists, and hands. I thought a lot about that this week. I wear His name on my name plaque. I represent Him. Yet I complain about tough times and hard things. I've realized that each of those tough experiences are an opportunity to stand with Christ, do hard things. I will never come anywhere near close to experiencing what Christ did. But, I know that Christ knows anything I've experienced. And He is there to help. All I need to do is ask. The proof is in His hands, as he explains in 1 Nephi 21. He will not forget me, because I am graven into His hands.
Monday, March 7, 2011
MTC Letter #2
Leshelle's nametag, MTC card and important photos she keeps on her desk 
Thank you for all the birthday wishes, packages, and letters! It was a unique birthday. I don't think I'll ever have another one like it! Literally, unless one of my missions later in life puts me in the MTC for my birthday. My roommates made it a great day, in addition to all the letters and gifts. My companion is amazing! She has been a conduit for the Spirit so many times this week as I have been in all kinds of need. She has been and is a gift, a gem. It makes me feel better to know that she needs me too-she would get lost everyday without me. I'm good for navigating! This past week has been one of important connections. In several situations, I've felt such pure joy for our investigators. It's so easy to get caught up in learning the language, teaching well, and knowing the lessons, that I lose sight of what matters at times. As I am able to open my heart and turn off my mind, I am able to feel the joy of service. If I picked a theme this week, it would be getting out of myself. It's not the easiest thing to do; yet, it is the most rewarding thing to do. My best days here are those during which I don't focus on myself. As a result, I feel more joy, peace, and fullness than I have in a long time. I am learning how to let go of myself and trust Heavenly Father. As uncomfortable as it may be in my mind, trusting myself to God is the most natural feeling to my Spirit. When I stop thinking with my mind, my spirit feels safe and secure in God's hands. I love the Spanish language. I committed last week to share my testimony at the Testimony meeting the following Sunday (yesterday). I held myself to it. I was the first one up-all in Spanish! I love how I feel when I speak Spanish. I feel that I speak with more of my soul than when I speak English. Each day I learn more about myself. Particularly, I love the Gospel of Christ more and more each day. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ fills me with the most undescribable feelings. That is the beauty of what I am doing-I am giving others the opportunity to feel those things for themselves: a fullness that is similar to the overwhelming emotions that I feel when I hold a baby or watch the sunrise-in each case, I feel something so incredible and grand. It's so much bigger than me that I cannot contain it in my being. Yet, I am filled with it-body and soul. I don't know how else to explain it other than to say that I have never felt anything so great as that. That's why I am here. I have experienced things that I cannot explain or contain because they are so great. It's so incredible that I want to share it. Jesus Christ can heal ANY sorrow, mistake, pain, or yucky feeling. ANYTHING. I know that. That is what I want to share. Through the Atonement of Christ, He will take away all that is bad and replace it with peace, joy, and hope. Pray for missionaries. We feel it. (I would put a happy face here if I knew how)
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